10 Best Double Threat Rock Stars

For most people, becoming a famous rock star is achievement enough. Music is their passion and the creative rewards satisfy them fully. Yet there remain a select few who strive for more. Their talent and determination drives them to succeed in every endeavor they pursue. You may call these multi-tasking rockers overachievers, but we call them “double threats.”

Be it acting, painting, sports or some other venture, these musicians have branched out beyond the musical medium to become real success stories in other fields. We definitely marvel at their Type A ability to be at a highly productive level no matter what the chore at hand. Scroll down and check out the 10 Best Double Threat Rock Stars.

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10

Mike Shinoda

From: Linkin Park / Fort Minor

Before making it big as one of Linkin Park’s vocalists, Mike Shinoda earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Art Center College of Design. Even as his band has reached worldwide fame, Shinoda continues to create and showcase his original art pieces. His first public art show took place in 2004 under the name 'Diamonds Spades Hearts & Clubs.' He would later take things a step further, creating a two-part series called 'Glorious Excess,' which appeared at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles in 2008 and 2009.

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9

Chris Jericho

From: Fozzy

The concept of a professional wrestler turned rock singer seems like a Hollywood story. However, Chris Jericho has proven he more than has the chops as the frontman for Fozzy. The band has released five albums, with sales increasing on each disc, and he's garnered praise from many contemporaries within the hard rock community. While he definitely rocks, Jericho's winning personality has not only landed him iconic status in the WWE, but also paved the way for hosting gigs at metal awards shows and a chance to hoof it on 'Dancing With the Stars.'

Michael Buckner, Getty Images

8

Henry Rollins

From: Black Flag / Rollins Band

Henry Rollins rose to fame in the '80s courtesy of the hardcore punk band Black Flag and he followed that in the '90s with his own self-titled outfit, the Rollins Band. But music was just a stepping off point, as Rollins has transitioned to acting, hosting both radio and television shows and becoming an in-demand spoken word artist. He's shared the screen with Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Will Smith and Jeff Bridges among others. Throw in his book writing and voice acting, and it's plain to see that Rollins has established himself as a modern day rock star renaissance man.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

7

Marilyn Manson

From: Marilyn Manson

Given the theatrical nature of his live performances, a foray into acting seemed inevitable for Marilyn Manson. He made his film debut in 1997 playing a porn star in David Lynch's 'Lost Highway.' He's since gone on to act in several more movies, including 'Party Monster' and 'Jawbreaker.' He's also appeared on the television shows 'Californication' and 'Eastbound & Down.' Manson has also entered the art world with his own exhibitions and launched his own brand of Absinthe called 'Mansinthe,' showing his creativity knows no bounds.

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6

Maynard James Keenan

From: Tool / A Perfect Circle / Puscifer

Armed with one of the most distinctive voices in rock, Maynard James Keenan has maintained more than two decades of fame thanks to his bands Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. What many fans may not be aware of is that he has also found great success in the wine industry. A founder and owner of Arizona Stronghold winery, Caduceus Cellars winery, and Merkin Vineyards, Keenan has won awards for the various wines made within his compounds. For his adventures in viticulture, Maynard James Keenan earns a spot on our list of the 10 Best Double Threat Rock Stars.

Mark Davis, Getty Images

5

Jared Leto

From: Thirty Seconds to Mars

While 30 Seconds To Mars have a massive worldwide fan base, amazingly, there is a generation of kids listening to the group that has no idea of Jared Leto's TV heartthrob past. Playing the bad boy Jordan Catalano on 'My So-Called Life,' Leto stole the heart of Claire Danes in the mid-'90s. Roles in films such as 'Fight Club,' 'American Psycho' and 'Requiem For A Dream' helped cement him as a daring, risk taking actor and his role as a transgender woman dealing with AIDS in 'Dallas Buys Club' has earned him Oscar buzz.

Angela Weiss, Getty Images

4

Dave Grohl

From: Foo Fighters / Them Crooked Vultures / Nirvana / Scream

Dave Grohl’s musical exploits are well documented. As if being the drummer for a generation defining group like Nirvana wasn’t enough, he went on to found the Foo Fighters. But Grohl ends up on this list because of his excellence behind the camera. In 2013, Grohl released 'Sound City,' a documentary about the famed recording studio in Van Nuys, Calif. Josh Homme, Trent Reznor, and Lars Ulrich were just some of the A-list rockers in the movie. The film's success cemented him as a true master of multiple mediums.

Michael N. Todaro, Getty Images

3

Corey Taylor

From: Slipknot / Stone Sour

You know Corey Taylor as singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour. But it’s the written word that earns him a spot on our list of 10 Best Double Threat Rock Stars. In 2012 Taylor released 'Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good,' which examined society’s perception of sin. He followed that with 2013's 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven: (Or, How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots and Cynics in the Process),' which focused on the supernatural and paranormal. Both books prove that Taylor truly has a way with words, whether written or sung.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

2

Rob Zombie

From: Rob Zombie / White Zombie

As frontman of White Zombie, and then later in his solo work, Rob Zombie proved to be a maestro of hard rock. Then, in 2003, he began his career as a movie director. His debut was 'House of 1000 Corpses,' the story of two couples held hostage by a deranged family on Halloween. Made for a mere $7 million, the film brought in more than double its budget and garnered a strong cult following. Zombie has since balanced his music and film worlds equally, with 'The Devil's Rejects,' two updated 'Halloween' incarnations and 'The Lords of Salem' among his film credits.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

1

Nikki Sixx

From: Motley Crue / Sixx: A.M.

When he's not playing bass in Motley Crue or his own band Sixx:A.M., Nikki Sixx can be found hosting his nationally syndicated radio show 'Sixx Sense.' But it doesn't stop there for Sixx, who also has authored books (one of which he's turning into a Broadway production), taken up photography and served as a fashion designer. With so many irons in the fire, Nikki Sixx earns the top spot on our 10 Best Double Threat Rock Stars list.

Who Is Your Favorite Double Threat Rock Star?

There's a lot of artists with a lot of talent. Did we leave someone off this list that should be on here? Tell us your favorite double threat rock star in the comments section below.

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